|
|
Where your last days may be spent Sunday mornings, I usually get up around Nine o’clock, take a shower, get dressed up and go to church. One Sunday after church Ashley Moore, a good friend of mine from school, came up to me and told me that North Gate nursing home was looking for some young volunteers to help with the activities at the home. “Do you think you would be interested?” she asked. I took a moment to think to myself. It would be a good learning experience. It usually makes me feel good to help out where I’m really needed and besides how could I possibly say no to a beautiful face like Ashley Moore’s. “That would be great,” I answered, “I don’t have anything to do after school any way.” With the glitter of appreciation in her eyes she explained in her own words to me that she was very delighted that I could be of some help. “If you can be at north gate around 3:45 Wednesday, after school, I’ll get you started.” she announced. I told her that 3:45 would be just fine and she could count on me to be there. After school on Wednesday I carried my books to the car and started the rigorous task of making my way out of the schools overcrowded parking lot. I was on my way to my first day of volunteering at North Gate. The road up there is long and curvy. It’s as if a snake slithered up the hill and they built a road on top of its path. When I arrived Ashley was waiting to great me outside under the elaborate entryway. “Lets go inside,” she said, “I’ll introduce you to, Paula, the activities director.” As I walked through the “t” shaped hallways with Ashley I noticed someone in the background yelling, “Help Me!” The voice cried in a deep bellowing voice that seemed to come from the depths of her soul. I thought to myself that the nurses and doctors have everything under control and besides what could I do. When we reached the end of the intricate hallway system Ashley told me it was the next to last door on the left. Paula was waiting for us in the room. “You must be Evan,” she said, “Ashley has told me a lot about you and now I can finally put a face on you.” Paula laid a small pile of papers on the desk in front of me. “Look over and sign these so we can confirm you know the nursing home’s rules for volunteers,” She said. I must have been in there for over an hour and a half before I was finished going over everything with Paula. When I was finished, Paula told us the only thing we had to do for the day was make sure everyone who needed to eat was in the dinning room by 5:00 and then we could leave if we wanted to.
|
